The Not a Book Club Club discussion

This is the third 105 pages or so (in my edition).

Please keep all discussion to the events and speculation from the chapter: Among The Stones to the chapter: A Matter of Time.

No spoiler tags required.

Please do not discuss events from later chapters/books. Referring back to events from a previous section is fine.

Jezel yelling "I did it" then getting smashed in the face was the highlight of the book for me. Interesting seeing how Logen is able to read each member of the party to see how best to relateto them. Helps you understand how he got the loyalty of Threetrees crew.

I definately vote for just reading this then having to do any of it in real life.

I'm hoping that a mace to the face (hey that rhymes!) does Jezal some good.

I feel real bad for West now. He should have left the Prince to die, and certainly shouldn't have given up his coat.

I'm not sure what to make of the Glokta situation. Seems an elaborate way to get rid of him. His superiors can't honestly believe they can hold the city without help.

I'm not sure what their plan is, apart from maybe delaying them as long as possible.

I continue to enjoy how things develop with Logen and crew.

We meet another Magi who calls out Bayaz for whatever it is he is planning. Looking forward to discovering more.

Rob wrote:I feel real bad for West now. He should have left the Prince to die, and certainly shouldn't have given up his coat.

Maybe he's afflicted by that strange thing Glokta is thinking about in one of his chapters, this "honor".^^

And Ladisla is really annoying.

Now I'm really interested to see, how Glokta can escape the invasion. My bet would be on Yulwei interbention, but that would most likely mean loosing the Practicals as characters and that would be a shame.

Brokejaw Jezal learns a thing or two and the appearence of Zacherus is really intriguing. Looking forward to see, what this whole Seed business is all about.

I'm wondering how Glokta's decision to free Eider is going to come back at him. You'd like to think that as he showed her mercy, and as her goal was to help people, that she will somehow come back with help...but Glokta never gets that kind of break. I'm sure she will be back sometime though.

And the trouble they had managing Shickel leaves me dreading the arrival of the army of Eaters. Blech. And how long until Cosca switches sides. I think the natives are going to surprise them with their strength, too. I'm looking forward to finding out how this turns out.

And, can somebody please just shoot the Prince? Gah.

I really dislike Ladisla. Such an ass.

Still enjoying Logen bonding with his comrades. It's also been nice to see Jezal being humbled. Still do not trust Bayaz or Quai.

I can't comprehend why West is so loyal to Ladisla. I think be would go more good for him if West were harsh with him. But it seems like Bayaz is telling Jezal certain stories like he's trying to groom him to lead or rule so maybe making Ladisla into a better man is pointless.

Poor Glotka is going to end up crushed by the Gurkish. I think he'll find a way out for at least himself i hope. Also, I keep picturing Rose Leslie as Practical Vitari.

Dara wrote: "I can't comprehend why West is so loyal to Ladisla"

I think it's simply his strong sense of honor and duty as a soldier. He doesn't have much left, so he's clinging to that, even if it might be in his own best interests to do otherwise.

Hmm good point. By then, I would have said "fuck it" and gave up and tried to do my best to save my own skin.

I think most people would too.

West is a better man then I. But the again, I am not a man.

Agreed. At Ladisla isn't a sadistic, twisted, evil bastard. He's just a coddled weakling.

Reading about Logen & Company's travels makes me never want to leave. Little food, hard earth to sleep on, saddle sores, sore feet... no thank you.

Exactly. And how terrible being in a battle is, like you said before. It's quite nice. It makes me happy I'll never have to be in one.

Finally catching up to this point. I agree that Ladisla is annoying - at least he admitted he should have listened to West but then turns and blames it on that other noble that died...hopefully he learns more about responsibility. If anything, spending a few days trying to keep up with the northmen would show them how wrong they are about their strength. Threetrees is supposed to be old and yet he even makes West look like a weakling.

I'm really liking Glokta's story - not sure where it's going but I assume they'll be escaping somehow as someone suggested above...or it's more likely they're finally overtaken by the Gurkish fleet and taken as prisoners. What would Glokta do if captured again? They can't hold out forever.

My favorite thread is the motley crue heading out under Bayaz's guidance. I really want to see this dead land they're talking about and why people avoid it so much. It's pretty cool to see Jezel becoming less of a doosch and Logan winning people over. I'm not sure what possessed that guy to go get friends and attack them after what Bayaz did the first time they tried an attack....did he think things would go differently the second time? A mace to the face sounds painful...

Yes I intentionally misspelled crew...just for fun. Why? I don't know. I don't even listen to that band.

Tom wrote: "Threetrees is supposed to be old and yet he even makes West look like a weakling."

Yeah, that's pretty amusing. West is probably considered to be in good shape/hardy for a Union citizen/soldier yet he's nowhere close to Logen's friends, and likely most of the North Man.

It shows just how out-classed the Union might be in this war.

And if you're going to reference a crappy band, you should at least use the umlauts (I think that's what they are called) Mötley Crüe.